Genetic instability of the global regulator agr explains the phenotype of the xpr mutation in Staphylococcus aureus KSI9051.

ABSTRACT: Staphylococcus aureus KSI9051 has a complex mutation that was associated with the aberrant expression of cell surface and extracellular proteins (M. S. Smeltzer, M. E. Hart, and J. J. Iandolo, J. Bacteriol. 61:919-925, 1993). This mutation was named xpr, although no specific gene was identified. Here this mutation is referred to as Delta1058::Tn551. In this study, we show that in strain KSI9051, the Delta1058::Tn551 mutation occurred coincidentally with a frameshift in agrC that is expected to truncate the sensor component of the known staphylococcal global regulatory locus agr. Remarkably, pleiotropic mutations affecting cell surface and extracellular proteins are generated at frequencies approaching 50% upon the transduction of erythromycin resistance (Emr) encoded by Delta1058::Tn551 fr

SUBMITTER: McNamara PJ 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC107210 | biostudies-literature | 1998 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature